Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-24

his family. A worthy man
is that iautor, and he Is iutrusted with
"A responsibility and with secrets which
many men would give fortune to possess
and which many more would he uuwill-
ing to be saddled with at any price. The
guardian of millions, unless he have de-
signs on them himself, has reason to fear
those who have.
The underground basement of the build
ing is rented by an individual named
Kohlman, who follows the occupation of
a barber AS the BARRIERS profession is
one of those which is not interrupted by
the Sabbath-which, indeed, is an espec-
tally busy one during those Sunday morn
ing hours when people who have neg
lected to get shaved on Saturday nights,
come up to be made presentable and in
keeping with their best coats therefore
Mr.. kohlman arose as usual on this 9th
of October, and appeared on the corner of
Blocker street twenty-five minutes before
seven, as he informed himself by a glance
at the clock which stood directly over the
vault in the bank. Mr.. Kohlman remark
to himself that bank with nobody in it
was pretty dreary looking place, any
way; contrasted the easy affluence of
the bank directors with his own arduous
and precarious existence, and so descend
ed to his shop lit the fire under the
boiler, and got out his brushes and
raZors.
The policeman whose beat took him
past the bank at intervals of twenty min
utes now sauntered up and paused on the
corner. A young woman, carrying Il
prayer-boOk in her hand, approached and
stopped to ask him the hour. He con
suited The same clock that had just en-
lightened Mr.. kohlman, and informed the
churchgOer that it was Just quarter to
seven. She thanked him and hurried off,
and he followed her slowly. Fifteen min
utes later another officer, passing on his
way to the Central Office in Mulberry
street, looked through the bank windows,
and saw man with long whlskers and
wearing light linen buster, busily en-
gagged in polishing the woodwork of the
large fixed screen which surrounds the
desk room and vault. The mantle jan
itor of course, glanced up and met the
officers gaze, nodded Familiarity to him,
and went on with his work. while the
officer, weary with his nights vigil, pur-
sued his way to headquarters. If this
cantor" had been more closely scrutinz-
ed, perhaps New York would have missed
the experience of a very startling sensa-
ton.
The hands of the clock moved slowly
on, marking minute after minute, and
hour after hour. Its low ticking echoed
regularly through the vacant apartment
for vacant it was to all appearance. No
other sound was audible there at least
no one has ever been found who could say
that he had heard any other. Nor was a
witness ever produced to sswear that he
saw any person enter or leave the bank
on that Sunday morning. Everything
within seemed silent still and orderly :;
and yet, during those quiet Sabbath hours,
something very unusual and interesting
was taking place directly beneath that
self same decorous and non-committal
timepiece.
Was the sleep of the directors of the
Manhattan Savings Institution visited by
uneasy dreams that morning -? Were the
thousands of poor depositors, the sum of
whose earnings was collected in the great
safe, harassed by any premOnitions of
calamity? Did no spectre OF crime fit
through the chambers of that great police
hive around the corner No. Everywhere
brooded security and peace; everywhere,
save onlyln that narrow space within the
screen, where desperate effort was being
mode. in terrible silence, to realize the
hopes and schemes which had been cher
ishing and connecting for years Vast
stakes were being won and lost in those
short hours, and yet no sign showed on
the surface 10 give any Indication of the
CONFUSION going on below.
BY nine O'Clock Broadway and the adj
joining streets were beginning to look
fairly alive with holiday crowd, throng
ing forth in constantly increasing mum
bers to enjoy the pure October air and
sunshine. Everything was orderly, quiet
and commonplace Ten, fifteen, twenty
minutes more; and then, all of a sudden,
the respectable crowd of pedestrians We're
treated to a spectacle that startled them
out OF their propriety.